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Python Python Basics (2015) Letter Game App Random Item

Saloni Mude
Saloni Mude
9,933 Points
Posted by Saloni Mude
Saloni Mude
9,933 Points

random.choice code challenge showing error even though the code returns the required result in the python IDLE ?

I've tested the code in the Python IDLE and it seems to work just fine , yet when i try to copy paste that code into the code challenge , it shows the error : "Bummer! Didn't get a correct option back from 'random_item'"

Am I missing something?

item.py 
import random

def random_item (word):
    #get random number between 0 and len of word
    lenofword= len(word) - 1
    randnum = random.randint(0, lenofword)
    print ("The randomly selected number is {}".format(randnum))
    wordlist = list(word)
    print ( "The return value would be {}".format(wordlist[randnum]))


random_item("Treehouse")      


# EXAMPLE
# random_item("Treehouse")
# The randomly selected number is 4.
# The return value would be "h"

2 Answers

Jennifer Nordell
seal-mask
STAFF
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree
Jennifer Nordell
Treehouse Teacher
Jennifer Nordell
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree
Jennifer Nordell
Treehouse Teacher

Yes! And no. Your code is actually just fine. But keep in mind that just because it's functional outside the challenge doesn't mean that it meets the requirements of the challenge. Treehouse is going to call your function for you. So you can remove the call to the function that you've put in yourself. And if I change the last line of your code to return the value, it passes! Because Treehouse explicitly asks you to return the result... not print it.

Take a look:

import random

def random_item (word):
    #get random number between 0 and len of word
    lenofword= len(word) - 1
    randnum = random.randint(0, lenofword)
    print ("The randomly selected number is {}".format(randnum))
    wordlist = list(word)
    return(wordlist[randnum])

Keep in mind, this is your code... just slightly altered :smiley:

Saloni Mude
Saloni Mude
9,933 Points
Saloni Mude
Saloni Mude
9,933 Points

Yeah I suspected a little that it might have something to do with return . Thanks a lot :D

Jeremiah Bushau
Jeremiah Bushau
24,061 Points
Jeremiah Bushau
Jeremiah Bushau
24,061 Points

He is asking for you to return the information rather than print it to the console.

return wordlist[randnum]